'I went from playing football to being diagnosed with cancer in three days': International footballer and Nike model, 22, whose fatigue, night sweats and a swollen neck turned out to be leukaemia documents his battle against cancer on Instagram

Courtney Wildin suffered fatigue and night sweats the day after playing a match

The defender, who plays for Coalville in Leicestershire, also had a swollen neck

He went for medical tests the next day, which later showed he had leukaemia

Mr Wildin, who has modelled for Nike, said: 'It's a harsher treatment but they're 80 per cent sure that after this I'll be cured and then back to playing football.

'It's just a case of getting over the mental cloud of being in hospital all that time, which is never nice.'

Mr Wildin described the symptoms of his cancer, which led to him being diagnosed on December 5, as 'odd'. He played against Tamworth just days before.

He said: 'On the Sunday I was celebrating my girlfriend's and my brother's birthdays and I'd been feeling a bit of fatigue and having night sweats.

'On Monday I woke up with a swollen neck. It didn't hurt but I was really odd so I had some tests done.'

Mr Wildin, who hopes to be back playing football soon, said the diagnosis had also been a shock for Lauren and his family.

He said: 'It's been difficult for my girlfriend. But she's been great. The whole family has been amazing.

The defender, who joined Coalville last summer from Nantwich Town, is on Ward 27 - the ward for young people with cancer - at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

He said: 'Last time I was in hospital it was on an adult ward where there were people with a wide range of problems and that was a struggle.

'But this time I'll be on the young people's ward where friends and family can visit all the time and I'll be with other people my own age who are going through the same thing.'

He said that while the cancer itself hadn't caused any pain, he was expecting more of the treatment's unusual side-effects.

Mr Wildin said: 'In three days I went from playing football to being diagnosed with cancer - it was a massive shock'

The defender, who plays for Coalville and has been capped for Antigua and Barbuda, is back in hospital after his first round of treatment failed to stop the disease (pictured with a friend)

Mr Wildin (pictured left and right before his diagnosis) was initially told he needed a mild course of treatment, however, when this failed to 'decrease the levels of leukaemia', the footballer started a more intensive regimen, including chemotherapy

Mr Wildin said: 'The chemotherapy had a lot of weird side-effects that were strange - all sorts of things from sore teeth to constipation and trouble sleeping.

'The doctors give you a whole list of things you might experience and it's a crazy list.'

Mr Wildin revealed that when he announced he had been diagnosed with leukaemia there was an outpouring of support.

He has been posting regular updates about his treatment on his Instagram page.

Coalville Town chairman Glyn Rennocks said at the time of the diagnosis that the club will 'support him as best we can' and wished him a 'speedy recovery'.

He added: 'Courtney has been a fantastic player both on and off the field since he joined us and we are all deeply shocked at the news.'

Mr Wildin described the symptoms of his cancer, which led to him being diagnosed on December 5, as 'odd'. He played against Tamworth just days before (pictured pre-diagnosis)

Mr Wildin revealed that when he announced he had been diagnosed with leukaemia there was an outpouring of support

Mr Wildin has experienced everything from sore teeth to constipation and insomnia as a result of his treatment. He is pictured left in Glasgow and right in Mexico during happier times